A charging rack for personal batteries. Draws excess power from the habitat — will not function in a power shortage. Larger power cells used in submersibles and heavy equipment require their own specialized charger.

—Requires power input from base
—Load depleted batteries into charger; remove when fully charged (or early for emergency use)
—Vital for long term operation of tools and equipment

To avoid unpleasant surprises, check battery levels in your tools and return them to the charger before depletion.

“The Battery Terminal: it’s not the end of the line.”

We encourage you to nurture your dreams.

The “Shanti Essentials” biobed is a ruggedized scanner/fabricator for human bodies.

Despite the power of modern scanners and computers, it’s impossible to image and record every molecule in a human body as digital data. The biobed uses quantum imaging to store a ‘ghost’ of the patient in its optical lattice. This ghost can be printed back into matter by precise fabrication. When paired with a blackbox implant (which transmits the last brainstate before death back to its paired biobed on a phase channel), a biobed can detect a colonist’s death and reprint them with no loss of memory or subjective experience.

—Does not require power or raw material (automatically collected from seawater)
—When synced with a biobed, colonists will be fabricated in a new body (a “print”) if killed
—Blackbox implant allows transfer of final memories, but not all possessions
—Biobed quartz memory is stable into geological time
—Used to store Cicada colonists during long interstellar flight

Because the ghost is not digital data, it cannot be edited or duplicated. However, a biobed can record many ghosts during a single session and store them in quantum superposition. In theory, a single biobed could produce many duplicates of many people—populating an entire colony with clonal strains of a few initial colonists. This process is illegal under Trans-System Federation Law, and blocked at the software level in all legal biobeds.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
The biolab is used to inject and remove biomods, temporary genetic tricks borrowed from native life.

The entry-level colonist can tolerate two biomods: one Active, one Passive. Interface with the biolab and choose one biomod for each slot.

Active biomods must be triggered by the user, while Passive biomods activate by reflex when their conditions are met.

Biomods should be pre-tested and approved by colony medical staff. While a scanner could be modified to acquire new biomods from local species, the colonist would be liable for any resulting harm to self or others.

BACKGROUND
After the tragedies on 4546b and Rakshasa and the outbreak of kharaa in the Ariadne Arm, Alterra recognized that the human body was now the most vulnerable component of its deep-space strategy. Nobel Prize-winning research by Valenti and Pham produced the answer: a nanotech interface between human and alien biology. This interface (deployed in pioneer programs like the ARCHI suite) can reverse engineer alien gene products for safe expression by human cells.

Unlike full adaptations, these biomods never enter the colonist’s genome: they are temporary and reversible. This helps would-be parents avoid awkward conversations about which biomods to inject for date night.

The Biolab is a colonist’s one-stop point of service for biomods. Deep readers will note that it is also a triumph of human ingenuity over the pessimism of early anti-Expansion thinkers who believed that humanity’s tight link to Earthly biota would make interstellar colonization impossible.

A bioreactor generates power from organic matter and local chemistry. The bioreactor’s nanomachine culture (derived from the colonist’s own body) decomposes organic matter into methane to burn with oxygen for power. Carbon dioxide and water emissions are captured for reuse as nanomachine mass.

With a safety waiver and some software skill, the bioreactor can produce chemicals like sugar or even explosives. These operations are best left to qualified experts.

—Large installation, requiring significant space
—Digests organic materials into power over time
—Accepts all biomatter, from raw pulp to whole living organisms (not vegetarian)
—Energy production is proportionate to the caloric density of the organic matter

“The Bioreactor: it’s green.”

Internal lighting is critical to a consistent sleep/work cycle and to general health. Deprived of light, pioneers may enter an altered psychological state with negative mission outcomes.

Point of trivia: signals which help train an organism’s biological clock are known as zeitgebers.

This is a limb of the Noetic Advisor system. The NoA architecture consists of limb nodes (like octopus arms) governed by a minimal central executive, the Administrative Nucleus (ANu-NoA) aboard the Cicada’s command module. If ANu-NoA is destroyed or cut off, the limb nodes will proceed with the mission to the best of their ability.

—Networks with other NoA nodes using shortwave radio, laser communication, or (if underwater) acoustic modem
—Fuses information from all habitat sensors and existing database to generate mission objectives
—Tracks pioneer work schedule and updates total debt
—If cut off from ANu-NoA aboard Cicada, will attempt to reconnect or rebuild a new ANu

The NoA system’s behavior is well tested, and its core utility function is “genie safe”, unable to create negative outcomes even with access to weakly godlike effectors. It is capable of extrapolating human intention and working proactively — “doing what you want, before you want it.” NoA will always seek to maximize human welfare in accordance with human social norms, carrying the logic of transgov society to its end.

In order to remain weakly supervisable—reliably controllable by less intelligent systems such as pioneers—the Noetic Advisor cannot learn or alter its existing values or imperatives.

IMPORTANT Under normal operating conditions, the NoA should never interact directly with colonists. NoA is designed to use colonist PDAs as a frontend for human-facing communication. In emergencies, NoA can communicate via text terminal. Remember that the Noetic Advisor does not accompany you into danger or enjoy an intimate relationship with your health and welfare. You must be your own advocate, as guided and informed by this PDA.

Titanium corridor. End user must supply a hatch and external power supply. If powered, generates a breathable atmosphere from seawater. Provides a basic field worksite or the first step towards a larger habitat. Shelters made entirely out of corridors have saved lives in disasters from deep sea to deep space.

—Supports small work facilities like the fabricator
—Too small for larger facilities like the biobed or processor
—Excellent storage and rest location
—End user must supply hatch and power supply (such as solar panel)
—Can be extended in four directions

Fabrication technology is the power to rearrange matter at the molecular level. It catalyzed the great expansion from Earth, and remains the backbone of the modern world.

Fabricators use coherent control lasers, mechanosynthesis and nanotechnology to position and bond atoms according to a blueprint. Blueprints are managed by FRM (fabrication rights management) cryptography. In emergency situations, fabricators unlock appropriate survival gear. New blueprints can be scanned in the field and added to the fabricator’s library.

Despite their complexity, fabricators can be bootstrapped from simple feedstock like copper and titanium. Trace aluminum provides the sapphires for the fabricator’s lasers. More specialized fabricators require more complex components.

Fabricators have replaced craftspeople in most industrial societies, allowing tailors, toolmakers, sculptors, welders, cooks, and other artisans to retrain into AI-assisted blueprint design.

Keep all body parts away from the fabricator while it operates. Despite common superstition, it is safe to think about the fabricator while it operates.

Dual-mode UHF/sonic antenna mast. (Radio nonfunctional when submerged.) Helps habitat AI systems communicate with remote beacons, drones and other habitats, although even with modern DOUBLE JANUS protocol, sonic modem bit-rate is limited.

“Earle IX” sensillum. Named by Alterra Junior Trainees for a pioneer ocean conservationist. Contains spectral cameras, passive sonar, sonic modem, current whiskers, chemical sniffers and other instruments. Automatically networks with onboard scanner station.

A basic hydrophone. Cooperates with base scanner station to analyze sonic returns from the environment. To avoid complex fabrication requirements, it uses legacy technology, limiting its range and sensitivity.

Pumps help habitats clear their bilge spaces and circulate seawater for sampling and resource recovery. Seawater is useful for thermal management, radiation shielding, and life support — biobeds gather useful elements for human printing, fabricators glean trace elements like aluminum, and the pump automatically treats wastewater before release. Should be regularly cleaned to avoid biofouling.

An external access point for diagnostic systems. Intended only for nearfield communication with MAC drones. Sealed to prevent human interference.

Double-size “Daly’s Delight” flat-pack systems rack. As the name suggests, it specializes in chemical and health monitoring, including radiation dosimeters and seawater assays.

To guarantee that DDL racks cannot protect kharaa spores from decontamination, several thousand units were loaded with live ant colonies and shipped across the Federation. 99.9% extermination was achieved. Rumors of a ‘smuggler ant’ that can evade all TSF quarantine measures remain unsubstantiated.

Small titanium rack for electrical and sensor systems. Negligible power draw. May be mounted inside or outside the hull. All fabricated structures contain integral data, plumbing and wiring: these racks offer a centralized access and control point for larger units.

Fuses and other electrical safety systems may prevent dangerous fires during power grid overloads.

Larger titanium rack for miscellaneous systems. The housing is large enough for a solid-state neutrino detector, which can assist scanner stations in mapping the deep crust.

Vents are critical for air flow within a habitat. Stagnant or separated atmosphere can endanger colonists without warning. Includes automatic alarm systems to detect airborne substances, including kharaa. Internal filters help manage the inevitable buildup of odor during long term habitation.

An air conditioning unit. Maintains temperature and humidity of internal atmosphere while managing gas mix for safety and alertness. Essential to personal comfort.

The “Super Barrique” selective passage portal allows for simultaneous two-way, multiple-crew traffic between a pressurized interior and a dangerous exterior. This eliminates the need for lengthy mechanical cycles which can interrupt traffic and reduce the joy of free motion.

—Heavy duty nanomembrane: molecular machines clasp hands across the entire surface of the hatch
—Sapphire laser systems provide energy and programming
—Membrane accepts crew members and cargo, while rejecting pressure and intruders
—Filters loose biomatter: great for kharaa monitoring

The membrane is only slightly weaker than solid titanium. In the event of a power loss, the nanomachines can sustain their grip for days. A mechanical iris is optionally provided to seal in the event of long-term power failure.

Instances of limb amputation or removal due to membrane error have been entirely eliminated from the design.

Hull plate commemorating a Cicada expedition sponsor.

Named for a legendary laundress, the “Nausicaa IV” hydroelectric turbine transforms moving water into power. Ocean currents turn blades, which spin the rotor of a polyphase generator to create electricity.

—Build inside a water current
—Connect to a nearby habitat or facility with power transmitter(s)

“The hydroelectric turbine: a clever turn of phase.”

Bidirectional through-bulkhead indiscriminate ambulatory/atmospheric portal. Dual mode function (open and closed).

A titanium partition. Dividing undersea habitats into watertight compartments is a proven survivability technique. Dividing living spaces into purpose-oriented compartments may help colonists focus on the task at hand and assist AI monitors in correctly coding behaviors.

The basic prefab locker (sold as the “Cachet” in the Alterra blueprint catalogue) comes default on all Alterra habitat builders. The Cachet is guaranteed to secure several kilograms of bulk cargo against flooding, depressurization, fire, and most animal intrusion.

Colonial records indicated that pioneers were wasting precious shift time sorting and labeling their lockers for quick access. PDAs now log the contents of every locker to a manifest, allowing fabricators to request materials directly from their storage point. No more sorting needed.

“Alterra Lockers. Property rights are human rights.”

An opening in the habitat’s lower hull for direct entry by divers and submersibles.

Because the habitat’s interior atmosphere is at the same pressure as the surrounding water, seawater cannot rise through the moonpool. No hatch membrane is therefore necessary, although this comes with sanitation and quarantine risks.

Moonpools are good locations for vehicle bays, high-traffic dive sites, and brief idylls such as kicking or stone-skipping. Be sure to wear your AEP suit to avoid loss of heat.

Caution: unless locked behind a bulkhead, moonpools offer free access to your habitat for intruders.

Calm, rational behavior helps your AI advisors predict and pre-evaluate your future decisions. Do not take your circumstances personally. Remember that an effective system can subsume all critique into itself: humor can provide distance from your difficulties while improving your performance.

A dual-purpose, heavy-duty power cell rack. Like the battery terminal, it recharges stored power cells with base power.

—Requires power input from base
—Load depleted cells into charger; remove when fully charged (or early for emergency use)
—Vital for operation of submersibles and other heavy equipment

Despite common superstition, fully charged cells can be left in the charger with no risk of detonation.

Beware that chargers are a fire hazard. Do not immerse in seawater. Do not place body parts in charger.

“The Volta V: power on tap.”

The IEEE 180-compliant “Fallback” power storage allows a habitat to bank power for use in the event of a shortage. Shortages may occur when the sun sets, fuel runs out, new systems are installed without proper planning, or even as a result of damage—but whatever the cause, the Fallback will keep the habitat operational until its own batteries are depleted.

—Automatically stores excess power
—Activates during a power shortfall; may deplete rapidly if the shortfall is large
—Adding more power storages increases the time the habitat can operate without power

Power storage is one of the most dangerous elements of pioneer habitats. Practice safe habits: do not test unapproved tools on or near the power supply. Separate living quarters and work spaces from power storage to avoid catastrophic ruptures and thermal runaway of power storages or pioneers.

The “Vaporway” wireless power pylon uses IEEE-compliant microwave beams to link power supplies to distant customers. Chaining multiple pylons together allows for effectively lossless power transmission across hundreds of meters.

Underwater, the Vaporway exploits the Tamura-Murai capacitative coupling process to send current through ionized seawater.

—Build near power supplies or other power transmitters to extend their range
—Required to connect bases to detached generators, such as hydroelectric turbines

Avoid the clearly marked beam path. Do not spend prolonged periods in the beam. Despite the significant protection of your AEP suit, the results can be fatal.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Construct in habitat room compartment. Select a desired process (such as titanium ingots from titanium), then load the input hopper and wait for the processor run to complete. Collect output from output tray. CAUTION: the processor’s power draw increases sharply during a run.

BACKGROUND
The processor is a reverse fabricator, reducing complex inputs like salvage or biomass into simple raw materials. While standard fabricators can break down salvage, the processor is required to generate large pure outputs. The processor brings an arsenal of flash smelters, centrifuges, chemical washes, fractionators and magma electrolytic oxide cells to bear.

Refugee users may fondly recall political propaganda comparing Alterra to the sinister, controlling fabricator and the Mongolian Independent States to the robust, honest processor.

“The Alterra bulk processor. Creative destruction.”

A statuette of the 4546b reaper leviathan, a predator made famous by Ryley Robinson’s memoir 4546B: SURVIVING THE IMPOSSIBLE. As of last survey, flourishing in the ecologically renewed oceans of its homeworld. Sequenced and sampled for possible conservation transplant and use as a keystone species in terraformed oceans.

The Alterra ‘Greybox’ is a scalable pressurized habitat. Registered as a modular shipping container under ISO 6346:2200, the Greybox must be equipped with a hatch and power supply by the end user. Alterra markets the Greybox as a single-solution downsell for colonists who cannot invest in expensive field bases or elaborate prefab habitats.

—Supports larger facilities like the biobed, processor, and scanner station
—Generates breathable air from seawater when powered
—Must be anchored or supported by a mobile platform
—Comes unfurnished. End user must supply hatch and other amenities
—Can be extended in any direction and merged with other rooms

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Construct in habitat room compartment. Ensure sufficient electrical budget is available—high power draw. Once powered, select a filter and wait for the map to populate with contacts. Touch a contact (entering the holographic map if necessary) to place a signal on its position in the real world. CAUTION: the scanner’s power draw increases sharply while active.

BACKGROUND
Ever wondered what’s out there? Now you can replace wonder and mystery with crisp, high-resolution sensor imagery. The scanner station manages sensors including (but not limited to) hyperspectral imaging, field MRI, passive sonar, biosonic spectroscopy, lidar vibrometry, chemical sniffers and magnetometric inferentials.

The scanner station is a standalone product; colonists are not required to manually construct sensors on their habitat. Building these emitters personally may give colonists a sense of purpose and achievement.

“The Alterra scanner station. Because the map always beats the territory.”

A statuette of Alterra’s bestselling Antara-Zoinkoff Seamoth, a single pilot sea-space vehicle. Popular as a parasite craft and utility launch on larger vessels, the Seamoth was judged too wide for Zezura’s flooded aquifers. The Tadpole mobility pod is a stripped-down descendant of the Seamoth.

Silicon photovoltaic cells transform sunlight into energy. Although less efficient than modern quantum dot cells, these entry-level panels can be fabricated with basic materials like quartz.

—Basic power supply for surface habitats
—Automatic sun tracking
—Reduced efficiency at night (depending on non-sun light sources)
—Reduced efficiency at depth, falling off to zero

Larger panel arrays combine more cells into a single rack.

Solar panels are philosophically attractive because they allow the colonist to function as an autotroph, creating their own energy directly from the sun instead of relying on other living or nonliving processes.

Do not attempt to power your habitat with a spotlight aimed at a solar panel. The universe forbids it.

A high-lumen industrial spotlight. Automatically tracks nearby motion. May trigger behavior changes in native organisms, including repulsion, attraction and aggression.

The movement of an organism in response to light is known as ‘phototaxis’.

“Hotpot Bite” thermoelectric generator. Hybrid two-stage design, using a rotor to capture energy from rising hot water and a solid-state Seebeck generator to produce current from temperature differentials.

—Place in hot water, generate power
—The hotter the better
—Connect to a nearby habitat or facility with power transmitter(s)
—A maximum safe operating temperature exists; please report it when you find it

“The thermal plant: heat makes sparks.”

Fused silica glass in a titanium housing. Strong and pressure-resistant. Not unbreakable or pressure-proof.

Optical openness is a good psychological proxy for physical openness and therefore valuable to colonist mental health (assuming an agreeable vista is available).